Thank you to those new subscribers to my postings. I’ve been “under the weather”, hope to be posting very soon. Computer access also limited. I plan to post a couple of things on the Electoral College and the U.S. Supreme Court and its selection process (chosen by the President of the U.S.) and impact of different selections. Anyway, I have “ideas” and will hopefully be back very soon. If you are celebrating Thanksgiving, I wish you a tasty turkey day. It’s a family holiday here in the States. B
Flattery
In response to the WordPress Daily Post’s word, “flattery”, I pose the question, “why would a woman subject herself to the media scrutiny and public embarrassment as did the four women whom Donald Trump paraded before the media and the world’s audience last night at the President debate/townhall meeting?????
All four women, individually, were linked with the Clintons in the past, linked forever, through an unfortunate “happening” or personal experience.
There they were sitting at a table, being photographed, perhaps being questioned by the media. In fact, I just now thought, WOW, this is a beauty pageant sponsored by Donald Trump! But it’s not a beauty pageant; it’s just a very blatant media event. These women were “used” and I don’t mean in a good or kind sense. What were they thinking? Would I have done this? Would I have participated in this mini-sham?
It’s personal. It’s very personal. To “dust” off the past and wave it “out” there in front of literally the whole world to scrutinize, one must be a believer of the “requester of the favor.” I guess these women felt their presence at Trump’s request was a “good thing.”
I just don’t see the actions of these women as “flattering” either to themselves or their political beliefs whatever they may be. Are we witnessing character assassination or political assassination during these election proceedings?
I guess I don’t think the “media display” was flattering at all, especially to women. Perhaps, it was effective, but it was not flattering. But then it was not meant to be flattering, was it!
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Jobs and Jobs Training Archive
Since I have written quite a few blog articles related to jobs and jobs training, I thought I would create an archive for your perusal. Jobs go along with “economics”, without an “economy” there are no jobs. So here it goes, hope you enjoy the Archive, I have enjoyed writing the articles and as you can see the theme is a “work in progress”:
Jobs Training
Part 1: Jobs in the Mono-economy
Part 2: Past prescriptions
Part 3: The job training dilemma
Part 4: Jobs training, the more things change, the more the stay the same
Part 5A: The Re-tooling of a titan: Chicago
Part 5B: Jobs training, search for solutions
Business
Signs of the Times #6: Peripheral Stuff
Signs of the Times #8: Thriving or/dying industries
Are Boomers causing a business bust?
Ghost Ship
Import-Export Bank
The Real cost of doing business
Getting a Job
Let’s talk about minimum wage
Idea of a resume` is so passe`
Immigration policy or illegal immigration policy
The American Dream
The Temp has gained Respect
Studs Terkel, a Chicago journalist and TV personality, wrote a book called “Working“. He interviewed the “common” man or woman and recorded their lives as they related to work. We are defined by our job or craft, or skill, or “calling.” We have pride in ourselves when we feel worthiness and “worth.” Perhaps that’s what’s missing right now in the American spirit, it’s our “worth.” Let’s restore it, re-write the recipe or create a new one.
By the way, don’t forget to VOTE! It’s your patriotic duty and contributes to a feeling of “worth.”
Barrick Gold’s Australian super pit stake sale draws interest from Kinross, Zijin — Financial Post – Top Stories
Barrick Gold Corp.’s stake in the Kalgoorlie Super Pit mine has drawn interest from Kinross Gold Corp. and Zijin Mining Group Co. in a sale that could fetch as much as US$1 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said. Australian producers Newcrest Mining Ltd., Northern Star Resources Ltd. and Evolution Mining Ltd. are also reviewing data…
Is this a “study” in contrasts or what! As “they” say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Well, I say, this photo is surely speaking volumes. I have a question for you, the reader. What thought or thoughts first popped into your mind upon seeing the above photo? Let’s not try to get philosophical, I mean your “gut” reaction. Mine was one of contrasts. There are really two “photos” one might say, did someone use PhotoShop software to enhance this photo? Of, course, not. (At least I don’t think so.) The photo in one sense seems like the yin and yang symbol of the Chinese culture, representing opposite forces. There is the huge gaping hole of the humanly engineered-mine and the huge human civilization existing right along side it.
The mine represents “forces of an economy.” By that I mean in this case a “scarce” resource (gold) being used to support jobs, a capitalistic enterprise i.e., a mining company, and creating a “local” economy for the region where the mine is located. But it is still a gaping hole in the earth, a wound in the earth’s surface. I am discovering that I am writing not only about “human” economics but environmental economics as well. Here’s a quote from the article:
The Barrick asset, known as the Super Pit, is 3.5 kilometers long and ranks as Australia’s largest open-pit gold mine, its website shows. It’s located in Kalgoorlie, a city in Western Australia where the metal has been produced continuously since a late 19th-century gold rush.
I recently wrote another blog article motivated by another striking photo:
Saskatchewan water.
We are living in the “age of shock.” In order to get people’s attention, many times abrupt, jarring tactics are used by the media, or others to gain attention to an event, a product, a person, you name it.
So do we just get more numb in order to counter-act the shock? Have you seen any “yin and yang” contrasts? It creates food for thought and perhaps hopefully civil conversation.
The “Temp” has gained Respect!
A fresh report from the Freelancers Union now shows that nearly 55 million Americans are freelancing. If you tally this up against Labor Department data, it means more than a third of the work force…
via Are There Really 55 Million Freelancers in America? — 24/7 Wall St.
As some of my reader know from my writings, I do hearken back a decade or two. This article from 24/7 Wall St. made me reflect upon the way it way. Once upon a time, most folk worked a full-time job, 40+ hours a week, 2-weeks vacation per year (with pay), maybe a couple of “sick days” available with pay, healthcare insurance (if a family man/woman) probably family healthcare insurance. A “full-time” job had its “perks” even if the “daily grind” could be physically and/or mentally challenging.
If a person was fired, quit, was”laid off,” lost his/her job for whatever reason, there were alternatives to earn “income”, mostly through signing up with an “agency” and doing temporary work. Temps NEVER received any respect from their “temporary” co-workers, meaning those people whom they worked with at the company that the temporary agency sent them to work. If you were working “temporary” you needed the job, the money.
I have a very short story of what happened to me on one assignment. I was “hired” to fill in for a woman who was pregnant, she was very close to her “term”, delivery of her baby. I cam to work, showed up on time, had agreed to the (2) week assignment as offered by the temporary agency. After I was “on the assignment” for a couple of days or so, the employee left on her pregnancy leave of absence as scheduled. Well, a couple of days after the pregnant secretary left…her boss was fired! I was “re-leaved” of my temporary assignment immediately! I was out of work! I was told I was not needed because the boss had been fired! So here I was, without work having committed to the 2-week assignment “in faith.”
Temporaries were placed in “compromising positions many times with assignments because of the environment of the assignments that they accepted. The Work World, as we knew it in the 1960s and 1970s was changing more rapidly than we “Boomers” could ever have realized. Technology, which that time meant “computers”, were moving to the desktop quite rapidly, in fact ONE (1) secretary would work for 20 TWENTY at one time, (that was one of my temporary assignments back in the early 80s.)
Anyway, in reading this article, I feel “we’ve come a long way, baby.” The article mentions a Freelancer’s Union. I don’t intend to get into any discussions “heated” or other wise about “unions.” My intent is to draw attention to the fact that the Work World has indeed evolved. It has taken decades for the US Federal Government to recognize that, hopefully labor legislation, law, and maybe even “taxes” will evolve within a “reasonable short time, or more timely manner. Just like many other traditions or ways of doing business the World Work has radically changed.
Enjoy the article from 24/7 Wall St. and here is my archive of blog articles on the theme of jobs and jobs training.
Part 1: Jobs, jobs, jobs and job training dilemma
Part 2: Past Prescriptions to employment problems
Part 3: Jobs, jobs, jobs and and the Job Training Dilemma
Part 4: Jobs, and jobs training, the more things things
Part 5A: Jobs and the retooling of a Industrial Titan: Chicago
Part 5B: Jobs Training and the search for long term solutions
via Are There Really 55 Million Freelancers in America? — 24/7 Wall St.
Veeps in the Spotlight
Last night Monday, October 4, 2016, voters and citizens of the U.S. got to hear and see the Vice-Presidential candidates who will be running for office along side the Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
So what did we learn new? Were there any different viewpoints displayed between the vice-presidential candidates and their presidential running mates? Should we expect any “revelations during such a debate? Should the vice-presidential candidates have/show different opinions or viewpoints than the presidential candidate that he is “running with?”
Well, here’s the “take” by the:
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/04/us/politics/vice-presidential-debate.html?_r=0
Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/10/04/winners-and-losers-from-the-vice-presidential-debate/
BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37558787
Fact check from NPR: http://www.npr.org/2016/10/04/496452797/fact-check-vice-presidential-debate-with-tim-kaine-and-mike-pence
Finally, this website has some “background info on the vice-presidential candidiates: https://ballotpedia.org/Vice_presidential_candidates,_2016
We are entering the “home stretch” of the U.S. Presidential election, with (2) two more Presidential debates scheduled: October 9 and October 19.
And, whoever said that elections were boring??? The historians will have a field day writing about this one and just think, the “tweets” and emails alone will fill several volumes data!
Whatever the outcome of the election, how about we “come together” as a nation? E Pluribus Unum, out of many, one: http://www.greatseal.com/mottoes/unum.html
It’s the motto of the United States, I think we forget it once in a while.
Author’s Update, 106/2016: Found this posting at the Brookings Insitute and thought it might be of interest: How Kaine and Pence both fit the mold of a modern Vice President. ( https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2016/09/29/how-kaine-and-pence-both-fit-the-mold-of-a-modern-vice-president/)
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Realize
All I Can Say is WOW!
All I can say is WOW! Wow, wow, wow, wow!
Is this the penultimate “Week that was?” There are (3) three reasons that I say that:
1. The Chicago Tribune (Trib), a historical very Republication newspaper (it dates back to 1847), did endorse a Democrat for President in 2012, Barack Obama; and to my amazement, has this time endorsed the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson!!! I opened the Trib to its editorial page and there it is. I’m including a photo of the editorial page. 
For disclaimers: I have no political intention with this photo. It’s just a photo of the endorsement of Gary Johnson, it just was such a surprise. Hillary Clinton being a “hometown” candidate and all, did not sway the Editorial Board nor did Donald Trump being the Republican candidate abet, a somewhat reluctant choice of the Republication party. I am not working for any political candidate, I’m not a politician, I’m not being paid to post these remarks. In fact, my blog tries to focus on economic issues but the Presidential election results will drive economic “issues” for (4) years perhaps even more. On to Reason #2:
2. The Congress of the United States over-rode a veto by the President of the United States regarding a Bill that allows U.S. citizens to sue the perpetrators of the terrorists’ attacks on September 11, 2001in New York, Washington, D.C. and plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. Here’s a link to information about the bill.
I actually started writing this blog article early this morning (Oct 2) and was going to title it: “Is this any way to run a country?” Here, following is what I wrote early and I mean (2AM or so) this morning:
Or, how about this title for my blog article, “Is Lame Duck voting, a Brexit Redux? We have an election in November which will “fire” some in Congress and replace them with new Senators and U.S. House of Representatives. Thus any legislators voting upon on legislative Bills between the November 11 election and swearing in of newly elected Congressional representatives are called “lame ducks.”
So Congress finally over-rode a Presidential veto. This Presidential veto was meant to prevent potential diplomatic, security, safety, strategic global endangerment of US citizens abroad, around the world. The “vetoed” bill was purportedly not read adequately by Congressional members before their voting action. There are now Congressmen/women who regret their vote for the veto.
Here’s some links on the situation as it unfolds:
The Bill
The Veto
The vote to overturn the Veto
The consequences, who knows, but there already is a lawsuit filed against Saudi Arabia.
Is this retaliation or “get even” vote against President Obama because of his executive orders? Is this the ultimate touché` of a Republication Congress against a Democratic President? How self-destructive do we need to get before we completely destroy our Country? Or, to say it another way, when will our legislators discover the “art” of compromise again? Do you remember the video game “Pac Man”? I never played it but basically it was “eat or “get eaten.” When everyone or thing is “eaten” the game ends.
We are worried about the Russians or North Korea having nuclear weapons they might launch. We are worried about China becoming a world power! We just keep shooting ourselves in the foot!
So was the overturn of President Obama’s veto a retaliation, a sensible vote, gross negligence of Congress without due diligence, political blunder, political correctness, lack of diplomatic oversight…I’m running out of reasons or perhaps excuses.
Is it greed that drives the reparation movement regarding 9/11 tragedy? Unanticipated consequences brought about the Mid-East crises, unanticipated consequence brought about the housing crash of 2008-09, lack of due diligence and greed caused the dot.com crash in 2001.
And, finally Number 3:
3. Another stopgap “funding” bill so US government won’t “shut down”
Stopgap money bill
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/Deal-Reached-to-Help-Flint-Keep-US-Government-Open-395096431.html
How many times has the U.S. government been shut down? Answer: Too many times, it never should have happened even once!
The sequester bill was passed into law in year 2011, why it happened and the aftermath of consequences, because it did “work.” Here are some links to reference about the sequester bill:
Frequently asked questions about the Sequester
https://democrats-budget.house.gov/committee-report/frequently-asked-questions-about-sequestration-under-budget-control-act-2011
Unlike computers, there is no UNDO button in Congress; well there is… more legislation, political wrangling, amendments, whatever. But the damage done perhaps can’t be rectified and again more reparation contemplated.
We have “tent cities”, drinking water that is poison, demonstrations like “Occupy Wall Street” which resulted from the housing crisis of 2008-09, discriminations that may or may not ever be resolved to anyone’s satisfaction. A national crumbling infrastructure that at times literally collapsed as the bridge in Minnesota. http://www.startribune.com/new-35w-bridge-already-is-aging/268746561/
I don’t even know how to end this blog, I usually come up with something witty or positive to say. Perhaps I should refer to a comedy motion picture called “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World.” Here’s a movie “trailer” on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sla845GW9YM
I mean is it not a comedy of errors” at this point? Let’s stop pointing fingers and get to work. I’ll give you a “spoiler” alert about the motion picture, the money gets found but there is “no reward.”
Well, “that’s all folks”, to quote Bugs Bunny. And, tomorrow’s another day, here’s the Tomorrow song from “Annie”, the theater play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PzL8aL6jtI
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Breakthrough
Clumsy
Frontline’s Documentary: The Choice 2016
First a disclaimer: I am NOT a political worker for either candidate, I am NOT an employee of Frontline, the documentary company, I am NOT a politician of any political party. I am NOT an employee of PBS.org or any other journalistic entity. I AM a private American citizen and a voter in the next Presidential election. I hope the above clears up any questions about my “status” concerning this particular posting.
Now to the post: I have just viewed the Frontline documentary called “The Choice 2016.” Here’s a link to it online: The Choice 2016.
Whether you are a “Trump” supporter or a “Clinton” supporter, its worth your time to get some background on the two Presidential candidates. The documentary covers several decades of the lives of the two candidates.
If you are “on the fence”, perhaps watching the documentary will change your vote, if you are a “Trump” or “Clinton” voter the documentary may help you solidify your voting decision. Whatever the reason, U.S. citizens need to vote.
P.S. You might not even need the popcorn!
Post-debate 9/27/16
Since I’m responding to the Daily Post word “unfinished”, today, I thought it might be appropriate to comment upon the “consumer confidence” number just recently released. As I have previously posted in my blog, here is a small tutorial on the difference between “consumer confidence” vs. “consumer sentiment.”
An article on the website MarketWatch, cites consumer confident is higher. Yet, there are retail stores closing, unfortunately people (who are also consumers) are being laid off or losing their jobs.
Mr. Trump referred to “carried interest” during the debate, here’s a link to my definitions article which contains a definition for “carried interest.” There were also comments by both Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton about “trade deficits“, also, here’s my blog article regarding trade deficits plus little more.
Looking more at the word “unfinished,” it could apply to, of course, our election of a new President is, yet, unfinished; or, the U.S. economy “recovery” is yet unfinished, or is it better to look at the November election results as Thank you the campaigning is finally finished!
I hope that you viewed the debate last night. I hope that you plan to watch AND listen to the following debates which are scheduled as:
Vice Presidential candidates on October 4–remember that these two candidates are the potential #2 leaders of the United States
Presidential candidates on October 9
Presidential candidates on October 19
“Finished” in its meaning has the connotation of “ended” or “done.” It has a finality to it. Think of our election results instead as the continuity of our nation or as we say in our pledge of allegiance:
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation, under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.”
As a final comment, I do believe that the Pledge of Allegiance should be brought back to the schools. We said the Pledge everyday at the beginning of the school day, I attended a public school and a parochial school, we recited the Pledge at both schools. It was patriotic.
If there is anything that is “unfinished” it is our national identity. Perhaps our individual identities are changing but our National ideals and beliefs should not. We can “work it out,” we really can.
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Unfinished
U.S. Presidential election archive
We are almost “at the wire”, the U.S. Presidential election is November 8, 2016. There are four (4) debates scheduled before the November 8 election:
• September 26 (Presidential candidates)
• October 4 (Vice Presidential candidates)
• October 9 (Presidential candidates)
• October 19 (Presidential candidates)
Who is qualified to participate in the U.S. Presidential debates in the year 2016??? That’s the $64,000 (U.S. Dollar) question!
The responsibility for deciding this question is the Commission on Presidential Debates. “The CPD’s primary mission is to ensure, for the benefit of the American electorate, that general election debates are held every four years between and among the leading candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States.”
“Under the 2016 Criteria, in addition to being Constitutionally eligible, candidates must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to have a mathematical chance of winning a majority vote in the Electoral College, and have a level of support of at least 15 percent of the national electorate as determined by five selected national public opinion polling organizations, using the average of those organizations’ most recently publicly-reported results at the time of the determination.”
Will third party candidate Gary Johnson have a change to participate in the U.S. 2016 Presidential election debates? Here’s what the New York Times thinks about that question: Will Gary Johnson quality to debate?
Here’s an archive of my postings that reference the upcoming U.S. Presidential election.
Frontline Documentary: The Choice 2016, dated September 28, 2016
• Introducing the Party of “Neither” dated August 31, 2016
• Show me the Money! dated August 12, 2016
• FYI: What is the Electoral College dated August 8, 2016
• Fact Checking the Clinton Speech July 29, 2016
• Debt-Deficit Conundrum dated July 23, 2016 (fact checking Trump Speech)
• It doesn’t really matter (I guess!) dated July 20, 2016
• American Dream circa 2016 dated May 30, 2016
You can also look under my categories “election” and “presidential election” at the bottom of my Blog page for these blog articles.
It is famously quoted that Marie Antoinette (Queen of France) said “let them eat cake.” So to do a bit of a paraphrase, I say “let them debate!”
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Argument
Promises
The Mono-Economy of the New Millennium 
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